Ghana launches five-year plan to combat vaccine-preventable diseases

GHANA—Ghana has introduced a comprehensive five-year national strategy to effectively respond to vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) outbreaks.

The “Mass Vaccination Plan for VPD Outbreaks” plan seeks to streamline the country’s efforts in managing these outbreaks, clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders involved in the response.

By consolidating these efforts, the plan aims to reduce the morbidity, mortality, and disabilities linked to VPDs while ensuring access to high-quality immunisation services.

According to the Ghanaian Times, Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, the Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), officially launched the plan in Accra.

 This event coincided with the conclusion of the COVID-19 International Vaccine Implementation and Evaluation (CIVIE) project, a four-year initiative that supported multiple countries in the rollout and management of COVID-19 vaccines.

The end of the CIVIE project provided a fitting backdrop to unveil Ghana’s long-term strategy for addressing VPDs.

Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe highlighted that the new mass vaccination plan comes at a crucial time, offering clear steps to ensure equitable vaccine access, robust data management, capacity building, and improved risk communication.

He emphasized that this plan would allow Ghana to respond swiftly and effectively to outbreaks without disrupting routine immunization services or other essential health sector activities.

He noted the often-devastating impact of VPDs, not only on the population but also on healthcare systems and the economy, making vaccination one of the most powerful public health tools to mitigate these risks.

“In the past, diseases such as measles, polio, whooping cough, tetanus, and yellow fever claimed the lives of countless children in Ghana and left others with lifelong disabilities,” Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe stated.

 He stressed the importance of reflecting on the past to fully appreciate how far the country has come in combating VPDs and understand their new direction.

He added that the plan’s success depends on the collective efforts of public health officials, healthcare workers, community leaders, policymakers, and the public.

“Each of us has a role to play in ensuring that vaccine-preventable diseases become a thing of the past,” he said.

Dr. Kwame Amponsa-Achiano, Programme Manager for the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) at the GHS, explained that the new plan was shaped by lessons learned from past mass vaccination campaigns, particularly those carried out in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 He pointed out that the plan aligns with the national health policy’s broader goal of achieving a healthier population by providing quality immunization services.

The plan is built on the principles of equity, integration, inclusivity, sustainability, accountability, and community engagement, he noted.

In addition, the Deputy Director of Disease Surveillance at GHS, Dr. Dennis Laryea, expressed optimism that the plan would serve as a valuable resource for healthcare workers and stakeholders alike, helping to ensure that VPD outbreaks are met with a swift, coordinated, and effective response.

With this five-year plan in place, Ghana is expected to make significant strides in preventing and managing vaccine-preventable diseases, safeguarding the health and well-being of its population for years to come.

Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and  insights from Africa and the World HERE